Speaking-tube.



No. 881,093. PATENTED MAR. 3,1908. 1". M. CHANDLER.

SPEAKING TUBE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 20, 1907 THE cums psrzns cu, wAsnmcron, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. CHANDLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SPE AKING-TUBE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. CHANDLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Speaking-Tube, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in speaking or voice carrier tubes designed for use in talking to persons who are deaf. Plain cylindrical tubes, (their ends cut so as to form a right angle with the aXis of the tube,) are in common use for this purpose, but are objectionable in, that in mak ing use of them the speaker must stand at the side of the listener and therefore cannot be seen by the listener when the speaker is using the tube.

The objects ofmy improvements are, first, to provide a simple, inexpensive, straight voice-carrier having the listeners end so formed that when placed. beside the ear the tube will project forwardly and so enable the speakers face, while talking, to be within the range of the listeners vision; second, to provide a means within the listener-end of the tube for causing a deflection of the sounds of the speakers voice towards the ear of the listener when placed at the aperture provided for the listener; third, to provide for a temporary shortening of the tube for more convenient transportation. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing,in which Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved tube in its simplest form of construction; and Fig. 2 a like view of a tube provided in the listener end with a sound deflector. Fig. 3 represents a side view, partly sectional, disclosing the sound deflector. Figs. 4 and 5 represent side views of two tubes of unequal diameter, one adapted. to slidet elescopicallywithin the other, also showing a modification of the listener end of the smaller tube. Fig. 6 represents the two tubes (Figs. 4 and 5) united, the lesser tube in longitudinal section shown partly projecting from the larger tube. Fig. 7 represents a side view of the lesser tube, in which a face View of the sound-deflector is shown. Fig. 8 represents a side view, and Fig. 9 an end view of a complete speaking-tube closed.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the interest of economical construction, the tube portions of my invention are pref- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 20, 1907.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Serial No. 379,939.

erably made of paste-board. Obviously,

they may be made either of metal, indiarubber, or other material. In length, there is no limit to the range, but for ordinary conversational use a length of ten or fifteeninches, or intermediate length, is suitable. In diameter, one or two inches, or an intermediate diameter, is preferred to those of greater or lesser measurement. In the construction, the speakers end, .9, is preferably made plain, having its extremity formed at a right angle to the axis of the tube. The listeners end is mitered, as indicated at a, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and at a, Figs. 4, 6 and 7. The miter is preferably formed on an angle which is acute to the axis of the tube. This, as indicated in Fig. 3, enables the listener to place the aperture 0 over his (or her) ear and to arrange the speakers end of the tube, 8, forward so as to bring his (the speaker) face within view while talking.

In order to reduce the length of the aperture-enlarged as a result of the formation of the miter ato one not greater than the width of the auricle of the ear of the user, a partition is fixed across the mitered part of the tube. In Fig. 1, this is represented as a semi-circular block b. In Figs. 2, 3, the partition is represented as being substantially co-eXtensive with the length of the miter, the outer half of the block filling the outer half of the mitered part of the tube. The inner part is tapered to althin edge at its extremity and preferably provided with a transverse concave face 6 and the inner eX- tremity b is reduced to a thin edge. Preferably, as represented in Figs. 4, 6, and 7 tube A, the miter, a, is cut through only onehalf of the diameter of the tube, and a block (1, which is similar in form to the inner or concaved part of block b, is fixed in the so mitered end of the tube.

The function of the concaved part c of block 65, (as of the same part of block b), is, to deflect the sounds that pass through the tube and so turn them towards the ear of the listener.

For use in conjunction with tube A, a secondary tube B is provided for the purpose of enabling the user to readily lengthen the speaking-tube when desired. This tube is adapted to slide over tube A telescopically. It is preferably made in length sufficient to entirely inclose tube A and so serve as a case for the tube.

I wish it to be understood that I desire not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim 1. A speaking-tube consisting of a length of tube, one end of said tube being mitered for placing against the ear of the user, sub-- stantially as described.

2. A speaking-tube consisting, in combination, two tubes of unequal diameter, the tube of lesser diameter adapted to slide telescopically within the larger tube, and one end of the smaller tube being mitered for placing against the ear of the-user, substantially asdescribed.

3. A speaking-tube consisting of a length of tube of which one end is mitered, said mitered part of the tube being provided with a transverse partition by which the aperture at the said lnitered end is contracted in its proportions.

4. A speaking-tube consisting of a length of tube, one end of said tube beingmitered, said lnitered part being. provided with a transverse partition consisting of a block set in the said mitered part of said tube, the outer end of said block filling the outer end of said miter, the inner end of said block be ing tapered to a thin edge, substantially as described.

5. A speaking-tube consisting of a length of tube, one end of said tube being mitered, said mitered part being provided with a transverse partition consisting of a block set in the said mitered part of said tube, the outer end of said block filling the outer end of said miter, the inner end of said block being tapered to a thin edge andprovided. with. a transversely concave face,.substantially as described.

6. In combination, in a speaking-tube, two tubes of unequal. size, the smaller tube adapted toslide telescopically into the larger tube, one end of said smaller tube being mitered, said mitered part being provided with a transverse partition consisting of a block set in the mitered part of said tube, the outer end of said block filling the outer end of said miter, the inner end of said blockbeing tapered to a thin edge and provided with a transversely concave face, substantially as described.

FRANK M. CHANDLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. MIDDAUGH, Jr., EVA B. .MIDDAUGI-I. 

